TY - JOUR
T1 - A longitudinal analysis of highly cited papers in four CALL journals
AU - Choubsaz, Yazdan
AU - Jalilifar, Alireza
AU - Boulton, Alex
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of EUROCALL, the European Association for Computer-Assisted Language Learning.
PY - 2023/6/23
Y1 - 2023/6/23
N2 - This study traces the evolution of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) by investigating published research articles (RAs) in four major CALL journals: ReCALL, Computer Assisted Language Learning, Language Learning & Technology, and CALICO Journal. All 2,397 RAs published over four decades (1983-2019) were included in the pool of data, and the Google Scholar citation metric was adopted to assess the impact of the papers. By selecting the top 15% of widely cited papers from each individual year, we minimized the time bias between years, enabling a balanced narration of the history of CALL through a representative dataset of 426 high-impact RAs. To identify the evolution of research trends, the contexts, methodologies, theoretical underpinnings and research foci of all 426 RAs were investigated using NVivo 12 and AntConc. The analysis of the data yielded encouraging results such as the upward trend in the number of publications and the international reach of CALL in the last two decades, the physical or virtual presence of language learners with diverse language profiles, and the growing tendency to triangulate methodology for increased complexity. However, long-standing issues such as the heavy reliance on traditional research contexts, poor reporting practices of basic demographic information, the large number of atheoretical papers and the concentration on a limited number of research foci continue to pose challenges in CALL research. Based on the findings, the paper suggests solutions for the controversies and addresses key issues for future research in CALL.
AB - This study traces the evolution of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) by investigating published research articles (RAs) in four major CALL journals: ReCALL, Computer Assisted Language Learning, Language Learning & Technology, and CALICO Journal. All 2,397 RAs published over four decades (1983-2019) were included in the pool of data, and the Google Scholar citation metric was adopted to assess the impact of the papers. By selecting the top 15% of widely cited papers from each individual year, we minimized the time bias between years, enabling a balanced narration of the history of CALL through a representative dataset of 426 high-impact RAs. To identify the evolution of research trends, the contexts, methodologies, theoretical underpinnings and research foci of all 426 RAs were investigated using NVivo 12 and AntConc. The analysis of the data yielded encouraging results such as the upward trend in the number of publications and the international reach of CALL in the last two decades, the physical or virtual presence of language learners with diverse language profiles, and the growing tendency to triangulate methodology for increased complexity. However, long-standing issues such as the heavy reliance on traditional research contexts, poor reporting practices of basic demographic information, the large number of atheoretical papers and the concentration on a limited number of research foci continue to pose challenges in CALL research. Based on the findings, the paper suggests solutions for the controversies and addresses key issues for future research in CALL.
KW - CALL evolution
KW - CALL journals
KW - high-impact research articles
KW - research synthesis
KW - research trends
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163633330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85163633330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/26659d87-9e6b-35fb-9dad-5f62b01e7366/
U2 - 10.1017/S0958344023000137
DO - 10.1017/S0958344023000137
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85163633330
SN - 0958-3440
VL - 36
SP - 40
EP - 57
JO - ReCALL
JF - ReCALL
IS - 1
ER -